Former 'X Factor' Star Killed Outside Police Station; Family Says 'He Was Targeted'

KEY POINTS

Former “X-Factor” contestant Deangelo Wallace was fatally shot outside a Kansas City, Missouri, police station Monday
Wallace allegedly had an argument with an unidentified man before the deadly shooting
His family said he received threats and was harassed because he was gay

The family of a 28-year-old man who was killed right outside a police station in Kansas City, Missouri, Monday said they believe his murder was a hate crime.

Deangelo Wallace, who was a contestant on the Fox singing competition "X-Factor" in 2012, was fatally shot at 12th and Locust in the area between City Hall, the courthouse and Kansas City Police Headquarters early Monday, Fox 4 reported.

Wallace allegedly got into an argument with another man leading up to the shooting, The Advocate reported.

A suspect was arrested in connection with the killing, and police turned the case over to Jackson County prosecutors, according to the report. Police did not announce the suspect's name and the charges, and the suspect has since been released.

The family of the 28-year-old said they believe that he was killed because he was gay.

“I’ve been on phone calls several times where he’s been threatened here in Kansas City. He’s been told that if they see him downtown, he’ll be killed,” Shauntice Wallace, the sister of Deangelo, was quoted as saying by Fox 4 during a press conference held Wednesday.

Karen Wallace, the mother of Deangelo, said her son told her "he was targeted coming down here in the downtown area. The homeless people were throwing rocks at my son."

However, police said they have no evidence during this time to support hate crime charges. According to authorities, the deadly shooting stemmed from an argument.

“Them making this gut reaction and saying this case is said and done — if the family here is saying it’s a hate crime, if the action leading up to it is a hate crime, there just needs to be a better set of eyes,” said local activist Justice Horn, LGBTQ Commission vice-chair.

Shauntice said she wants justice for her brother's death.

“I just want his killer to be charged. I want justice for my brother, and I want to shed light on the LGBT community because they are targeted every day,” she said during the press conference.